Album of the Day

Mr. Music Head, by Adrian Belew (1989): Formula for a successful single - write a song in which your young daughter wonders why you haven't had a hit single and have her contribute vocally to the track. Release and voila! Instant success. That's what worked for Belew, at least, with "Oh Daddy," the lead off track on this album, with daughter Audie sharing vocal duties. That's the only hit Belew's had (although "Beat Box Guitar" scored a Grammy nomination a couple of years ago) and, in true hit fashion, it's probably the weakest track on the album. Much more interesting are the monorhythmic "Peaceable Kingdom," the plaintive "Bad Days," and "1967," the best Beatles tune the Liverpool quartet never wrote.